PORT HADLOCK — About 300 people were expected to take part in a free Thanksgiving meal at the Tri-Area Community Center by the end of the day.
The traditional turkey-day feast — sponsored by the St. Vincent de Paul Society of St. Mary Star of the Sea Catholic Church and Olympic Community Action Programs, or OlyCAP — has been an annual tradition for more than a decade.
“We have so many people who have no family, no money and no ability to prepare a large holiday meal,” said volunteer Stephanie Reith.
“It’s wonderful how many people this draws in from the community.
“It brings in people from the whole county.”
Center manager J.J. Jenkins said he expected a larger crowd this year because demand at the local food bank has been higher than usual.
Jenkins said the center took 104 meals to those who could not attend, up from 75 last year.
It took three days to prepare the meal, which included nine turkeys and 60 pounds of ham.
Jenkins said that 25 people volunteered to help serve the meal.
“We had other people who wanted to volunteer but we had to turn them away,” he said.
The meal was free but donations were collected at the door, Jenkins said, with any overages covered by St. Mary’s.
The public also was welcome at a community feast in Brinnon, where about 50 were served last year.
The free meal began at 3 p.m. Thanksgiving Day.
________
Jefferson County Editor Charlie Bermant can be reached at 360-385-2335 or cbermant@peninsuladailynews.
